Friction shock-absorbing mechanism



I. F. OCONNOR. FRIcTIoN SHOCK AsoHBING MEcHANlsM. APPLICATION FILED OCI. 24. 192i.

` 25 ln the drawing` forming a part of thisV ments i to gradually worlr inwardly toward by ahood'ed cast yolre 11i and coupler lrey l5. The central friction blocks Care of like iraniana on. ai, iena.. y y lifldhhd i donn r. oconnon, or cnicneo, rLLnvors, essicfnon rro winnie-nr n. Minna, on i snaar, new sonic rarcrron encon-Anson'nme Meenemen. appellation inea ric-aber ai, i921. semi no. scarce.

y Ton/,ZZtf1/tomitmag/concern:` a bloclrs GWG; `a transverse bolt D; and a Beit known that I, Jorrit l?. Connon, pair of springs lil-QE. 55

aucitizen of the United States, residing` at The four end wedges EWE, arranged in Chicago, inthe county of Cook and State of pairs, two ateach end, .are of like construc- 5 illinois, have invented a certain new and J"on and each is preferably in the form of useful Yimprovement in Friction Shoclr-iban equiateral triangle in eross-seotion, as sorbing Mechanisms, of which the following clearly shown in Fig. l. Said wedges B-B 60 is a full, clear, concise, and exact descripentend in generally vertical direction and tion, reference beinghad to the' accompanyhave frictional contact with the end foling drawings, forming a part of this speciii lower 16 on the surfaces iSwlS.

cation.` j The two side friction elements A which Thisinvention relates to improvements in extend longitudinally of the device, are alec 65 friction shoclr absorbing mechanisms. of like construction and each is provided at Theobject of the inventionis to provide each end thereof with vertically arranged i5 a friction shock absorbing; mechanism espeinwardly inclined wedge surfaces lil- 19, cially adapted for railway draft riggings cooperable with corresponding surfaces and wherein are obtained large frictional .20- of the adjacent end wedges BB- 70 wearing areas and all ofthe friction gener inwardly of the wedge friction surfaces 19,

atingielements so' designed as' to allow of the web of the friction element A is oppo- 20 relatively inexpensive manufacture in `the sitely'inclined, as indicated at 21-21 so as form of castings; to provide clear-ance for the blocks C and Other objects of the invention will more leave a' space therebetween as clearly indi- 7 5 clearly appear from the description and catediirFig. l to compensate for wear on claims hereinafter following. the parts, thus allowing the side friction elespeciiication, Figure l isa horizontal longieach other. Centrally of each element A tudinal sectional "view of a1 portion of a and between the inclined webs 2l, each ele- 80 railway draft rigging showingrny improvenient A is formed .with an inwardly eX- ments in connectiontherewith. Fig. 2 isl tended' `cylindrical spring ypocket 22, hava vertical transverse sectional view correing a bottom wall 23 upon which the corre- ,spendingY substantially to the line 2``2 of sponding1 spring; E is seated. At the front fllfig. l. And Figs. 8 ande are'detail perspecand rear of thespring pocket 22, each ele- 85 tives of one of the side friction elements ment l is formed with transversely ei;-

and one ofthe central friction blocks retending; friction surfaces 244-24 to cooperate spectively. Y i witlr corresponding transversely extending in said drawing, lO-lO denote channel friction surfaces 25 formed at the inner ends draft sills of arailway carnnderfrarne to of the friction blocks C, Each element A i the inner faces of which; are secured front is also provided with uppcrand lower horistop lugs li and rear stop` ltig'sfl. A por- Zontallyi extendingv flanges 2(5--26 at each a0 tion of a drawbar is indicated at 13, thev end which straddle then friction blocks C same being` operatively associated with the and end wedges B so as to hold said parte in friction shock absorbing mechanism proper proper position vertically.`

The "yolre, the "friction shocliA absorbing construction each having inclined wedneie mechanism propertherewithin and the front tri ,tien surfaces E27-27 on its sides, cooper- `and rear followers"`l6fl6 are` supported in able with the corresponding inner wedge `operative position by a` detachable saddle snrfa-ccs @S1-'Q8 of the end wedges B. ln 100 plate 17. l normalllposition ofthe parts, the outer ond rllhe improved shock absorbing y mechafaces 29 l of the blocks C are flush with the 50 nisrn proper,` asshown comprises two side ends of the side. friction elements A.

friction elementsifi-rig` four end wedges The two springs E are of common form arrangedinfront and* rear pairslB--B,"two and of such length as .to terminate within centrally disposed independentY friction Y the" planes'of the draft sills l0. The outer f y The tion elements A `the springs E, it being evident ends of the springs E are engaged by spring followers mounted on the transversely extending bolt .D and limited in their outward movement by the nuts 3l on the bolts.

ends of the bolt D, the nuts 3l and portions of the hubs on the spring followers 30 are accommodated in longitudinally cxtending' slots 32 provided in the draftJ sills. In certain types of friction gears now on the market, elongated openings in the draft sills are necessary to accommodate a transversely extending bolt and springs disposed on the outer sides of the sills. IvIy constructionis adapted to be interchanged with sncli types of gears and at the same `time avoid locatingthe springs outside of the sills which is a fea-ture obgected to by certain users.

inward or bufling movement of the drawbar. As the drawbar .movts inwardly together with the front follower 16, -the front pair of end wedges are moved rearwardlyk at the same rate. Due to the wedge-engagement between said wedges B and the block C and side friction elements the side fricare caused to spread apart laterally against the yielding resistance of that the aceach end of the As will be understood, the

The operation is as follows, assuming an tion is simultaneous at mechanism.

. wedges B are also caused to move laterally.

said In addition thus generating friction between wedges and the followers 16. to the friction generated between the wedges B and the side elements A and blocks C, I obtain the additional transverse friction surfates of the blocks C and side elements A, without sacrifice. of strength of the parts and at the time maintaining a compact structure capable of being employed in the standard spacing allowed on railway cars.

All of the parts A, B and C are of substantial construction and may be manufactured at comparatively small expense in the f ordinary castings, thus insuring a relatively inexpensive complete device.

I have herein shown and described what I now consider the preferred manner of carrying out the invention, but the same is merely illustrative and I contemplate all changes and modifications that come within the scope of the claims appended hereto.

l. In a friction shock absorbing mechanism, the combination with front and rear end pairs of wedges longitudinally and lat erally movable; of longitudinally extending side friction elements laterally movable and having frictional engagement at their ends with said end wedges; centrally located front and rear friction blocks,each inter` posed between a pair of end wedges and fric.- tionally cooperable therewith, said blocks and side friction elements having frictionally cooperable transversely extending surfaces; and spring means cooperablc with said side friction elements to yieldingly rcsist lateral separation thereof.

2. In a railway draft rigging, the combination with draft sills having front and rear stop-acting means, and front and rear followes; of a shock absorbing mechanism interposed between said followers, said mechanism including; front and rear end pairs of wedges longitudinally and laterally movable and frictionally the followers; longitudinally extending side friction elements laterally movable and having frictional engagement at their ends with the end sets of wedges; centrally located front and rear friction blocks, each interposed between a pair of end wedges and frictionally cooperable therewith, blocks and side friction elements having transversely extending cooperablc friction and spring means cooperable with said side friction elements to h sist lateral separation thereof, said spring means being confined entirely between the draft sills.

3. In a friction shock absorbing mechanism, the combination with front and rear end pairs of wedges longitudinally and laterally movable; of longitudinally extending side friction elements laterally movable and having end wedge. friction surfaces cooperable with said end wedges; centrally located front and rear friction blocks, each interposed between a pair of end wedges and frictionally cooperable therewith, said blocks and side friction elements having transverselyextending cooperable friction surfaces; and spring means cooperable with said side friction yelements to yieldingly resist lateral separation thereof.

d. In a friction shock absorbing mechanism, the combination with front and roar end pairs of wedges longitudinally and laterally movable; of front and rear end fol lowers on which said end wedges bear and frictionally cooperable therewith; l dinally extending side friction elements hav ing inwardly inclined end wedge friction surfaces cooperate with said end wedges; centrally disposed front and rear friction blocks of wedge-shape, each interposed between and having wedge-friction-engage ment with a pair of end wedges, said blocks and side friction elements having transversely extending cooperable friction sur faces; and spring means cooperable with said side friction elements to yieldingly rosist lateral separation thereof. A

5. In a friction shock absorbing mechanism, the combination with front and rear end pairs of wedges longitudinally movable; of longitudinally extending side friction elements laterally movable and having cooperable with' y rear stop-acting means,

Lasagne frictional engagement at their ends with said end wedges, each side friction element having a centrally disposed inwardly extended spring pocket and transversely ex tending friction surfaces at the front and. rear of the spring pocket; central front and rear friction blocks, each having wedge-engagernent with a pair of end wedges and a transversely extending friction surface cooperable with transversely extending friction surfaces of said side friction elements; andv a spring disposed in each of said' spring pockets.

6. ln a railway draft rigging, the combination with draft sills having front and and front and rear followers; of front and rear pairs of end wedges on the inner sides of said followers and frictionally cooperable therewith; laterally movable longitudinally extending side friction elements having oppositely inclined wedge friction surfaces at their ends, a centrally disposed inwardly extended spring pocket and transversely extending friction surfaces intermediate the spring pocket and the end wedge surfaces; independent cen trally located friction blocks of wedge form9 each having wedge-friction-engagementwith a pair of end wedges and transverse frictional engagement with transverse friction surfaces of the side elements, said side friction elements being laterally slightly spaced from` said blocks; a transversely extending coil spring in each of said spring pockets, said springs being confined entirely between the sills; and means for retaining the outer ends of said springs against lateral movement.

JOHN F. OCONNOR.

Witnesses:

Garmin GAILING, ANN BAKER. p 

